Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited the Czech Republic for a two-day trip, meeting with Czech officials to discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia. During his visit, Zelensky met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who had invited him to the country shortly after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. Fiala tweeted about the meeting, saying he was happy to welcome Zelensky to Prague and that the Czech Republic had contributed 45 billion CZK to the fight against Russian aggression.
Zelensky also met with the speakers of both houses of the Czech parliament, Miloš Vystrčil and Markéta Pekarová Adamová, as well as with Czech President Petr Pavel. During his meeting with Pavel, Zelensky thanked the Czech Republic for its support of Ukraine and warned about the influence of Russian propaganda in the country. He also believed that Ukraine should be invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The visit came amid ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine launching a counteroffensive against Russian forces in recent weeks. Zelensky has been visiting several countries to drum up support for Ukraine, and his visit to the Czech Republic was seen as an important opportunity to strengthen ties between the two countries. During his stay, Zelensky also visited Prague Castle and met with Czech business leaders to discuss investment opportunities in Ukraine.
The Czech Republic has strongly supported Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, with the two countries having historical ties dating back to the days of the Soviet Union. While the Czech Republic is not a member of NATO, it has been an essential ally of the United States and other Western countries in opposing Russian aggression. Zelensky’s visit was an essential step in strengthening ties between Ukraine and the Czech Republic and building a united front against Russian aggression.